Air Chief Marshal AP Singh Urges Officers to Contribute Towards Indigenous Defence Capability and Modernisation of Armed Forces
Eleven Test Pilots and Six Flight Test Engineers Successfully Complete Rigorous 48-Week Training at Air Force Test Pilots School
TFP Bureau, New Delhi, May 24, 2026: The graduation ceremony of the 48th Flight Test Course was held at the Air Force Test Pilots School (AFTPS) in Bengaluru on May 23, 2026, marking the successful completion of an intensive 48-week multidisciplinary training programme by 17 officers from the Indian Armed Forces.
The graduating batch comprised 11 Test Pilots and six Flight Test Engineers. Among them were 14 officers from the Indian Air Force, one officer from the Indian Army, and two officers from the Indian Navy. Following graduation, the officers will join the Aviation Wing of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), one of the premier testing and evaluation units of the Indian Air Force.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff and an alumnus of the 17th Flight Test Course, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. He presented graduation certificates to all officers and honoured outstanding performers with prestigious awards and trophies.
Sqn Ldr KK Singh, VM, received the prestigious “Suranjan Das Trophy” for being adjudged the best all-round student Test Pilot. Sqn Ldr Aditya Jamdagni was awarded the “Chief of the Air Staff Trophy” for excellence in flight evaluation among Test Pilots.
Among the Flight Test Engineers, Wg Cdr Abhinav Kumar received the “Maharaja Hanumanth Singh Sword” for being declared the best all-round student Flight Test Engineer. Wg Cdr Pranav Sharma was awarded the “Dunlop Trophy” for best performance in flight evaluation, while Sqn Ldr Paras Sharma received the “Kapil Bhargava Trophy” for excellence in ground subjects.
Addressing the graduating officers, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh congratulated them on successfully completing one of the most demanding professional training programmes in military aviation. He emphasized that the officers would now shoulder critical responsibilities in strengthening the operational capability, safety, and modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces.
Highlighting the importance of self-reliance in defence production, the Air Chief Marshal stated that “Atmanirbharta” has become a strategic necessity for the nation. He underlined the crucial role of test pilots and flight test engineers in accelerating indigenous defence development and strengthening India’s aerospace ecosystem.
He urged the officers to work with dedication and precision while ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality during aircraft and systems testing. Stressing the need to reduce the “design-to-delivery” timeline in defence manufacturing projects, he called upon the graduating officers to contribute actively towards faster induction of advanced indigenous platforms and technologies.
The Chief of the Air Staff also advised the officers to uphold the core values of honesty, integrity, professionalism, precision, and excellence throughout their careers. He noted that the responsibility of evaluating aircraft and defence systems demands the highest level of technical competence and operational understanding to ensure that the equipment fully meets the operational requirements of the Armed Forces.
The ceremony reflected the Indian Air Force’s continued focus on developing highly skilled test crew capable of supporting advanced aviation research, indigenous defence projects, and the modernisation of military aerospace capabilities in the country.
